VA officials defend bonuses in light of long waits

Jun. 20, 2014
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Jim Gleisberg, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Eastern Kansas Health Care System, answers questions during a tour of the Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center by members of the state's congressional delegation on June 13, 2014, in Topeka. / John Hanna, AP

by Kelly Kennedy, USA TODAY

by Kelly Kennedy, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON - Members of a House Veterans Affairs panel Friday grilled VA officials about how the agency can motivate its employees if 80% of them receive an above-average or "exceeds expectations" score on their performance reviews.

"It's hard for me to believe that 80% of employees can be above average or this other category, 'exceeds expectations,'" said Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, D-N.H., during a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing. "Is there ever an opportunity for denial of 'enhanced pay'"?

Of 500 senior executives, not one has been rated less than "successful" in the past four years, Gina Farrisee, VA's assistant secretary for human resources and administration, told the committee.

The committee met to discuss bonuses as high as $60,000 as scandals broke across the country detailing veterans' deaths as they waited months for a first doctor's appointment, outbreaks of infectious disease, and books cooked to make it look as if wait times for appointments were shorter than they really were. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki announced his resignation after the scandal broke.

"I don't think there are a lot of people on this committee who have a lot of faith in the metrics that we use VA-wide," said Rep. Jon Runyan, R-N.J.

Without data on performance incentives or evidence that the bar for performance is too low, there's no way to talk about the problem, Runyan said.

"I do believe there's room for change," Farrisee said.

Better training and "very real goals" could improve the situation, she said. The performance review, for the first time this year, is automated so that she can now see it, which could help with evaluating the process.

"But what about lack of performance?" Kuster said. "Can anyone lose their job?"

"There is absolutely a process to do that," Farrisee said, adding that a "proposal for removal" is similar to the process for most government employees. "If the evidence proves (misconduct) through investigation, that is possible."

The public has lost trust in the VA because it seems to care more about financial incentives to employees than veteran care, said Rep. Jeff Miller, a Florida Republican who is the committee chairman.